Catseye Spotlight: Gary Van Valkenburgh

Q & A with a Professional Pest Control Technician

Name: Gary Van Valkenburgh
Position: Production Coordinator

When did you join Catseye?
I joined Catseye more than 15 years ago.

How did you get started in pest control?
I started in the Pest Control Industry in 1974 through a friend that worked for a local Pest Control company. During my career in the industry, I have been a member of the National and New York State Pest Management Associations, holding the position of Director, Treasurer and Vice President.

Where are you from?
I am from East Schodack, New York, and have lived here all my life. I love the small town life and can’t think of anywhere else I would rather live.

Tell us more about yourself.
I am married to Deborah and have a grown daughter, Amy. I have been involved in volunteering all my life, I have been an EMT, where I assisted in two births and a successful reversal using CPR. I have been a firefighter since age 16 and in 1980 was named Firefighter of the Year for Rensselaer County. I was also an Arson investigator for 28 years for my local town.

What are you known for around the office?
I guess I am known in the office for the stories of interesting jobs I have been involved in during my 30-plus years in pest control.

Do you have an interesting Pest Control story to share?
The one interesting job I can think of is the customer who swore she had crickets. The only way I could convince her she did not was to replace the battery in her smoke detector which was chirping. She was very happy and thanked me for getting rid of her crickets. Whatever it takes.

What are some of your other interests?
My interests are car racing and camping in the woods in the Adirondacks with my family and chocolate lab, Tucker.

What is an item on your bucket list?
When I retire, I want to drive across the country with my wife and dog, stopping when we want to see whatever interests us along the way.